Cuprous metaphosphate glasses

ABSTRACT

The subject invention is directed at wherein either a portion of the ZnO or alkali metals, or both, found in prior art glasses, is replaced by Cu 2  O, i.e., cuprous or monovalent copper. In addition to the Cu 2  O substitution, the inventive glass contains a required metal oxide constituent which is necessary to enhance durability. More specifically, the present invention discloses a glass consisting essentially of, expressed in terms of mole percent on the oxide basis, of about 42-54% P 2  O 5 , 10-30% Cu 2  O, 10-30% R.sub. O and 3-12% of a component selected from the group consisting of 0-7% MoO 3 , 0-10 Fe 2  O 3 , 0-10% Al 2  O 3  and 0-7%WO 3 . In addition, the composition includes up to a total of 45% of optional ingredients in the indicated proportions selected from the group consisting of 0-15% MgO, 0-20% CaO, 0-20% SrO, 0-20% BaO, 0-25% MgO+CaO+SrO+BaO, 0-35% ZnO, 0-10% MnO, 0-2% CeO 2 , 0-10% B 2  O 3 , 0-2% Ln 2  O 3  , 0-8% F, the latter as analyzed in weight percent. The R 2  O constituent is selected from the group consisting of 0-15% Li 2  O, 0-20% Na 2  O, and 0-10% K 2  O. Furthermore, the Al 2  O 3  +Fe 2  O 3  does not exceed 10% and the MoO 3  +WO 3  does not exceed 7%. One final requirement of the glass is that the predominate proportion of the copper is present in the Cu +   or monovalent oxidation state.

RELATED APPLICATION

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/367,465, filed concurrently herewith by B. G. Aitken et al. under the title "Cuprous Pyrophosphate Glasses", and assigned to the same assignee as the present application.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a cuprous metaphosphate glass exhibiting an extremely low softening point of about less than 325° C. and exhibiting excellent resistance to moisture attack.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Considerable research has been conducted in the past to devise inorganic glasses exhibiting low transition temperatures (Tg), thereby enabling melting and forming operations to be carried out at low temperatures. As conventionally defined, the transition temperature of a glass is that temperature at which notable increase in thermal expansion coefficient is recorded, accompanied by a change in specific heat (C_(p)). More recently, it has been recognized that glasses demonstrating low transition temperatures are potentially useful materials for a host of applications, including applications as sealing materials and as a component in glass-organic polymer composites and alloys. Alloys, a very recent development disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,043,369 (Bahn et al.), are prepared from a glass and a thermoplastic or thermosetting polymer having compatible working temperatures; i.e., the glass and the polymer are combined at the working temperature to form an intimate mixture. Articles produced from these alloy materials exhibit chemical and physical properties comprising a complementary blend of those demonstrated by the particular glass and polymer. For example, the alloys frequently display a combination of high surface hardness, high stiffness, and high toughness.

Glasses having base compositions within the general zinc-phosphate system have been found to be especially suitable for the glass component of glass-polymer alloys. Two illustrations of recent research in this zinc-phosphate system are reported below.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,920,081 (Beall et al.) discloses glasses exhibiting transition temperatures below 350° C., a working temperature below about 450° C., consisting essentially, in mole percent, of, 41-57% P₂ O₅, 0-5% Al₂ O₃, 0-8% B₂ O₃, 0-8% Al₂ O₃ +B₂ O₃, 15-24% Na₂ O, 0-8% CaO, 0-2% MgO, 0-21% Li₂ O, 13.8-43% Na₂ O+Li₂ O, 0-12 Cu₂ O, 10-29% Li₂ O+Cu₂ O, 0-2.8% ZrO₂, 0-5.5% F₂ and 0-5.5% K₂ O. The total amount of the P₂ O₅,+Al₂ O₃ +B₂ O₃ +Na₂ O+Li₂ O+Cu₂ should exceed about 90%.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,286,683 (Aitken) discloses a preferred composition consisting essentially of 30-35% P₂ O₅, 5-15% Na₂ O, 5-10% Li₂ O, 0-7% K₂ O, 13-25% Li₂ O+Na₂ O+K₂ O, 15-45% CuO, 0-15% CaO, 0-15% SrO, 0-15% BaO, 0-15% CaO+SrO+BaO, 0-3% Al₂ O₃, 0-3% B₂ O₃ 0-3% Al₂ O₃,+B₂ O₃, 0-30% Zn and 0-27% Sb₂ O₃. Furthermore, there is disclosed therein the requirement that a predominate portion of the copper present in the glass be in the Cu⁺², or cupric, oxidation state and that at least two alkali metal oxides be present.

The above-described zinc-phosphate glasses demonstrate relatively excellent resistance to chemical attack when compared to previous phosphate-based glasses. Nevertheless, the search has been continuous to discover new and different glass compositions displaying low transition temperatures with equivalent or even greater chemical durability. Resultant advantages of these lowered transition temperature, yet durable glasses would include: (1) lowered energy costs attributed the glass formation and the subsequent preparation of glass/polymer alloys and composites; (2) an increase in the number of compatible polymers available for co-processing with the glass to form glass/polymer composites and for thermally co-deforming with the glass to form glass/polymer alloys; (3) a likely increase in the number of potential commercial applications of the alloys and composites; and, (4) uses of the glass as sealing materials

Previously, an inherent drawback of lowering the transition temperature was the corresponding decrease in the durability, i.e., reduced resistance to attack by water. Accordingly, the principal objective of the present invention was to devise glass compositions having a transition temperature normally below about 300°, a working temperature below about 400° C., while, at the same time, exhibiting excellent resistance to attack by water, i.e., at least comparable to glass compositions with much higher transition temperatures.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Although the prior art discloses many beneficial effects of the addition of a copper-containing constituent to zinc-phosphate glasses, the subject invention is founded on the discovery of glasses wherein either a portion of the ZnO or alkali metals, or both, found in prior art glasses, is replaced by Cu₂ O, i.e., cuprous or monovalent copper. In addition to the Cu₂ O substitution, the inventive glass contains a required metal oxide constituent which is necessary to enhance durability. More specifically, the present invention discloses a glass consisting essentially of, expressed in terms of mole percent on the oxide basis, of about 42-54% P₂ O₅, 10-30% Cu₂ O, 10-30% R₂ O and 3-12% of a component selected from the group consisting of 0-7% MoO₃, 0-10 Fe₂ O₃, 0-10% Al₂ O₃ and 0-7%WO₃. In addition, the composition includes up to a total of 45% of optional ingredients in the indicated proportions selected from the group consisting of 0-15% MgO, 0-20% CaO, 0-20% SrO, 0-20% BaO, 0-25% MgO+CaO+SrO+BaO, 0-35% ZnO, 0-10% MnO, 0-10% B₂ O₃, 0-2% CeO₂, 0-2% Ln₂ O₃, 0-8% F, the latter as analyzed in weight percent. The R₂ O constituent is selected from the group consisting of 0-15% Li₂ O, 0-20% Na₂ O, and 0-10% K₂ O. Furthermore, the Al₂ O₃ +Fe₂ O₃ does not exceed 10% and the MoO₃ +WO₃ does not exceed 7%. One final requirement of the glass is that the predominate proportion of the copper is present in the Cu⁺ or monovalent oxidation state.

The inventive addition of the Cu₂ O component to the above prior art compositions as the ZnO replacement, coupled with the inclusion of the Al₂ O₃ +Fe₂ O₃ +MoO₃ +WO₃ component(s), results in a glass with increased durability with a corresponding decrease in the transition temperature, when compared to a glass exhibiting the same composition except for being Cu₂ O and metal oxide free. On the other hand, the Cu₂ O addition as an alkali metal replacement, coupled with the Al₂ O₃ +Fe₂ O₃ +MoO₃ +WO₃ component(s) addition, results in glasses with a comparable transition temperature but possessing increased durability, again when compared to those compositionally similar glasses. Furthermore, the combined replacement of Cu₂ O for a portion of the ZnO and a portion of the alkali metal, again coupled with the additions of the Al₂ O₃ +Fe₂ O₃ +MoO₃ +WO₃ component(s), would result in a glass possessing a mixture of the above two conditions. In any case, it is imperative to note that the resultant glasses which may be produced within the inventive composition and containing the requisite predominate Cu⁺ component, would possess a durability that could not have been previously obtained in glasses with transition temperatures as low as those possessed by the inventive glasses disclosed herein.

Whereas complete conversion of the above inventive composition ranges expressed in terms of mole percent, to ranges expressed in terms of weight percent is not mathematically possible, the following are the inventive compositions as expressed in terms of approximate weight percent: 50-70% P₂ O₅, 10-30% Cu₂ O, 2-6% Al₂ O₃, 0-5% Li₂ O, 0-10% Na₂ O, 1-5% K₂ O, 0-12% MoO₃, 0-8% Fe₂ O₃, 0-7% Al₂ O₃, WO₃, 0-10% ZnO and 0-10% B₂ O₃.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The desired and inventive glass formulation, consists essentially of the following (in mole percent): 42-54% P₂ O₅, 10-30% Cu₂ O, 10-30% R₂ O and 3-12% of a component selected from the group consisting of 0-7% MoO₃, 0-10% Fe₂ O₃, 0-10% Al₂ O₃ and 0-7% WO₃. In addition, the composition includes up to a total of 45% of optional ingredients in the indicated proportions selected from the group consisting of 0-15% MgO, 0-20% CaO, 0-20% SrO, 0-20% BaO, 0-25% MgO+CaO+SrO+BaO, 0-35% ZnO, 0-10% MnO, 0-10% B₂ O₃, 0-2% CeO₂, 0-2% Ln₂ O₃, 0-8% F, the latter as analyzed in weight percent. The R₂ O constituent is selected from the group consisting of 0-15% Li₂ O, 0-20% Na₂ O, and 0-10% K₂ O. Furthermore, the Al₂ O₃ +Fe₂ O₃ does not exceed 10% and the MoO₃ +WO₃ does not exceed 7%.

It is imperative to note that it is necessary to ensure that the resultant glass exhibits a predominate proportion of copper existing in the Cu⁺, or monovalent, oxidation state. It should be noted that all the inventive glasses disclosed herein, despite being formulated as consisting of 100% Cu₂ O, contain both Cu⁺ and Cu⁺ and Cu⁺⁺. We therefore define cuprous glasses, the subject of the instant invention, as being those glasses wherein the ratio of cuprous copper to total copper (Cu⁺ /Cu ratio) is 50% or greater.

Generally, the method for a making the glass disclosed herein involves the following steps: firstly, heating a glass batch formulated to produce a glass within the desired and above-described glass composition region to a temperature sufficient to cause the glass batch to form a homogeneous melt, while maintaining melting conditions which will ensure that the predominate proportion of the copper in the glass exhibits a Cu⁺ oxidation state. Once attaining a homogeneous melt, the inventive method involves thereafter cooling the melt and simultaneously shaping a glass article of a desired shape therefrom.

In order ensure that the glasses consist of a 50% or greater Cu⁺ /Cu, the glasses should be prepared under reducing conditions. The latter can be accomplished in a number of ways, including: (1) the use of a cuprous copper compound as the batch source of copper, e.g. Cu₂ O or Cu₂ CO₃, (2) the use of additional reducing agents as the batch source of P₂ O₅, notably NH₄ H₂ PO₄ and (NH₄)₂ HPO₄ ; and, (3) the use of strong reducing agents as the source of certain optional components. As an example, it is preferable to include 1-2% Al₂ O₃ in the glass formulation in order to further improve the chemical durability of the glass and, by batching the Al₂ O₃ wholly or partially in the form of Al metal, strong reducing conditions are attained that favor the formation of Cu⁺ at the expense of Cu⁺⁺ and, hence, yield glasses with high Cu⁺ /Cu ratios. In addition, glasses characterized by similarly high Cu⁺ /Cu ratios can be produced by melting the glass batch at higher temperatures and/or for shorter periods of time.

Table I records a number of glass compositions, expressed in terms of mole percent on the oxide basis, illustrating the parameters of the present inventive glasses. In the case of those glasses which contain fluoride as a constituent, it is merely reported in terms of the metal fluoride by which it was included in the glass batch; it is not known with which cation(s) the fluoride is combined. Table IA reports the same compositions, but wherein the values of the individual components have been converted to weight percent. It should be noted that the weight percent of the copper oxide in the Table IA examples is expressed as CuO in order to facilitate comparison with other copper-containing glasses. To obtain weight percent compositions with copper as Cu₂ O, the CuO content should be multiplied by 0.8994 and then renormalized to the 100% total.

The actual batch ingredients for the glasses comprised any materials, either the oxides or other compounds, which, upon being melted together, were converted into the desired oxides in the proper proportions. For example, Li₂ CO₃ may constitute the source of Li₂ O, while ZnF₂ may provide the source of ZnO and F. However, it should be noted that, in order to maintain the reducing conditions during the melting of the glass necessary to ensure that the copper is predominately retained in the Cu⁺ oxidation state, the following specific batch ingredients were used: (1) the copper batch source was completely Cu₂ O; (2) one quarter of the Al₂ O₃ required in each composition was batched as Al metal; and, (3) the bulk of the phosphate required in each composition was batched as ammonium phosphate (NH₄ H₂ PO₄).

The batch materials were compounded, automatically tumble-mixed in order to achieve a homogeneous melt, and thereafter placed into covered crucibles. The glass batch was then subsequently melted and thereafter maintained at a temperature of about 1000°-1100° C. for approximately three hours. Very little volatilization of P₂ O₅, or any other species was noted during the melt. The melts were then poured into a steel mold to form rectangular glass slabs exhibiting dimensions of 4"×8"×0.5" (10.16 cm×20.32 cm×1.27 cm) which were subsequently placed into an annealer operating at approximately 250°-300° C., remaining for a period of about one hour and thereafter cooled at furnace rate to room temperature.

                  TABLE I                                                          ______________________________________                                                1    2      3      4    5    6    7    8                                ______________________________________                                         P.sub.2 O.sub.5                                                                         46.0   43.0   52.5 52.5 50.0 50.0 46.0 48.0                           Cu.sub.2 O                                                                              21.0   20.5   11.8 11.8 18.0 23.0 17.0 16.5                           ZnO      5.0    8.5    11.2 11.2 --   --   12.0 7.0                            Li.sub.2 O                                                                              11.0   11.0   5.03 7.26 18.0 13.0 10.0 11.0                           Na.sub.2 O                                                                              11.0   12.0   5.03 7.26 --   10.0 10.0 12.0                           Al.sub.2 O.sub.3                                                                        5.0    --     4.47 4.47 4.0  4.0  5.0  5.5                            Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3                                                                        --     5.0    --   5.59 --   --   --   --                             CaO      --     --     --   --   10.0 --   --   --                             T.sub.g (°C.)                                                                    302    302    327  328  --   261  284  283                            Wt. loss (%)                                                                            0      0      0    0    0.08 0    0    0.01                           Cu.sup.+ /Cu                                                                            --     --     --   --   --   --   --   69                             ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE IA                                                         ______________________________________                                         1         2      3      4     5    6    7    8                                 ______________________________________                                         P.sub.2 O.sub.5                                                                       55     51.1   59.1 60.8  50   50   46   58.5                            Cu.sub.2 O                                                                            28.1   27.3   14.8 15.2  18   23   17   22.5                            ZnO    3.43   5.79   7.21 7.42  --   --   8.38 4.89                            Li.sub.2 O                                                                            2.77   2.75   1.19 1.77  4.68 3.19 2.56 2.82                            Na.sub.2 O                                                                            6.26   6.23   2.47 3.67  --   5.08 5.32 6.38                            Al.sub.2 O.sub.3                                                                      4.29   --     3.62 3.72  3.55 3.34 4.37 4.81                            Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3                                                                      --     6.69   --   7.28  --   --   --   --                              MoO.sub.3                                                                             --     --     11.5 --    --   --   --   --                              CaO    --     --     --   --    4.88 --   --   --                              ______________________________________                                    

In addition to reporting the relative amounts of the batch constituents, Table I reports the transition temperature (T_(g)) in terms of °C., as measured by employing standard differential scanning calorimetry techniques, and the chemical durability in H₂ O expressed in terms of percentage weight loss (wt loss). In order to measure the weight loss, i.e., the moisture resistance/durability, samples measuring approximately 2"×2"×0.5"(5.08 cm×5.08 cm ×1.27 cm) were cut from the glass slab for testing. The test involved weighing each sample carefully and then immersing the sample into a bath of boiling deionized water. After a residence time of six hours, the sample was removed from the bath, allowed to dry in the ambient environment, and thereafter reweighed to determine any loss of weight by the sample. This loss of weight for each glass sample as reported in Table I is then calculated as a percentage of the original untested/ unimmersed weight. It is necessary to note that a weight loss percentage greater than 0.15% is considered to represent unsatisfactory chemical durability, with losses less than or equal to 0.02% being greatly preferred. Lastly, Table I records the percentage of the total copper in the monovalent or Cu⁺ form; as determined through magnetic susceptibility measurements.

Table I illustrates that these inventive glasses possess exceptionally low transition temperatures, in some cases below about 265° C., corresponding to working temperatures below about 315° C. and they exhibit measures of durability/resistance to moisture ranging from 0 to 0.08. The values are exceptionally low for glasses within this range of transition/working temperature; they are comparable to those measures of durability exhibited by glasses possessing transition/working temperatures as much as 50° to 100° C./ greater, e.g., those phosphate glasses disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,940,677 (Beall et al.), 4,920,081 (Beall et al.) or 5,286,683 (Aitken).

As can be observed from Table I, the copper contained in the inventive glasses is present predominately in the Cu⁺ oxidation state, i.e. , the copper present in the inventive glasses is predominately in the monovalent or cuprous form, and it far outweighs the influence of copper in the divalent, Cu⁺² form. In addition, it should be noted that these oxidation percentage values, coupled with the durability data values, fully support the fact that the inventive glass disclosed herein are unique in that they possesses T_(g) 's which are considerably lower than those customarily exhibited by the prior art glasses, while at the same time possessing durabilities which are essentially equivalent; due, mostly in part, to the presence of copper in the monovalent form, i.e., Cu⁺ oxidation state.

While not intending to be limited by theory, it is believed that the beneficial effect of cuprous or monovalent copper is due to the fact that the component Cu₂ O behaves both as an alkali oxide and as a transition metal oxide. The alkali oxide-like behavior of Cu₂ O manifests itself in the low T_(g) of cuprous glasses and is due to the lower field strength (charge divided by ionic radius) of the Cu⁺ ion (1.02) relative to that of Cu⁺⁺ (2.78); in fact, the field strength of Cu⁺ is essentially the same as that of Na⁺ (1.01). The transition metal oxide-like behavior is presumed to be related to a lower isoelectric point of Cu₂ O relative to an alkali oxide, and results in the improved resistance to water/humidity of cuprous glasses. Additionally, it is theorized that the effect of adding the 3-12% MoO₃ +Fe₂ O₃ +Al₂ O₃ +WO₃ is also to lower the pH of the isoelectric point of the surface resulting in improved resistance to water and humidity.

COMPARISON EXAMPLES

Table II reports several compositions, expressed in terms of mole percent, taken directly from U.S. Pat. No. 5,286,683 (Aitken) which are similar to those of the instant application in being alkali copper zinc phosphates, but which, however, are outside the scope of the inventive glasses disclosed herein. Specifically, the glasses reported therein do not possess a predominate proportion of the copper in the requisite form, i.e., the monovalent Cu⁺ form, and they do not require the inclusion of the metal oxide necessary in the inventive composition, i.e., Al₂ O₃ +B₂ O₃ +Fe₂ O₃ +MoO₃ +WO₃. As a result of the presence of copper in the divalent form (all the compositions possess at least 70% divalent copper), the transition temperatures of these compositions are considerably higher than that of the inventive composition.

                  TABLE II                                                         ______________________________________                                         8             9      10         11   12                                        ______________________________________                                         Li.sub.2 O                                                                             7.0       7.0    7.0      7.0  7.0                                     Na.sub.2 O                                                                             8.0       8.0    8.0      8.0  8.0                                     K.sub.2 O                                                                              5.0       5.0    5.0      5.0  5.0                                     CuO     30.0      30.0   30.0     45.0 30.0                                    ZnO     15.0      7.5    --       --   --                                      Sb.sub.2 O.sub.3                                                                       --        7.5    15.0     --   --                                      CaO     --        --     --       --   11.2                                    Al.sub.2 O.sub.3                                                                       2.0       2.0    2.0      2.0  2.0                                     P.sub.2 O.sub.5                                                                        33.0      33.0   33.0     33.0 33.0                                    Cu.sup.+2                                                                              74        76     77       76   72                                      T.sub.g 339       367    340      360  362                                     ______________________________________                                    

Table III reports the composition of three typical phosphate glasses, exhibiting transition temperatures and P₂ O₅ amounts comparable to those exhibited by the inventive glasses. It is clear from the durability data reported therein, ranging from a 5% weight loss to a complete dissolving of the glass, that the inventive glasses exhibit a much greater durability than these representative phosphate samples possessing comparable transition temperatures and P₂ O₅ amounts; note that these comparison samples were only immersed in boiling water for a period of one hour.

                  TABLE III                                                        ______________________________________                                                  13        14        15                                                ______________________________________                                         P.sub.2 O.sub.5                                                                           46          46        46                                            Al.sub.2 O.sub.3                                                                          4            4        4                                             Li.sub.2 O 25          --        25                                            Na.sub.2 O 25          25        --                                            K.sub.2 O  --          25        25                                            Dissol. rate                                                                              5.0         dissolved 25.0                                          (% wt loss)            completely                                              T.sub.g    290         260       280                                           ______________________________________                                    

Table IV reports the composition of one example, 1, within the scope of the composition range disclosed in the aforementioned related Aitken et al. application and three examples, 16, 17 and 18, outside the scope this application and the related Aitken et al. application. A comparison of these examples supports one of the inventive concepts which underlies the basis for forming the inventive compositions disclosed herein--the Cu⁺ for alkali and/or Zn substitution. In other words, the examples in Table IV demonstrate the contention that a glass containing predominately Cu⁺, as opposed to the same basic glass containing either zinc or alkali in its place, has the best combination of a low T_(g) and good durability.

Specifically, a comparison of Examples 1 and 16 verifies that an alkali Zn-pyrophosphate glass which has the ZnO constituent replaced by Cu₂ O exhibits a lower T_(g) while still exhibiting comparable durability. A comparison of Examples 1 and 18 verifies that replacing a portion of the alkali oxide with an amount of Cu₂ O results in a glass which exhibits both a decrease in T_(g) and an increase in the durability; note that the relative proportions of Li/Na/K are kept constant. Lastly, a comparison of Examples 1 and 17 verifies that replacing ZnO and R₂ O by equal amounts of Cu₂ O results in a glass which, again exhibits both a decrease in T_(g) and a increase in the durability.

                  TABLE IV                                                         ______________________________________                                                  1     16         17      18                                           ______________________________________                                         P.sub.2 O.sub.5                                                                           38.4    38.4       38.4  38.4                                       Cu.sub.2 O 16.3    --         --    --                                         ZnO        19.8    36.1       27.9  19.8                                       Li.sub.2 O 8.14    8.1        11.0  13.8                                       Na.sub.2 O 9.36    9.3        12.6  15.8                                       K.sub.2 O  5.81    5.8        7.8   9.9                                        Al.sub.2 O.sub.3                                                                          2.33    2.3        2.3   2.3                                        (R.sub.2 O)                                                                               (23.3)  (23.2)     (31.4)                                                                               (39.5)                                     T.sub.g    235     319        298   281                                        Wt. loss   0.03    0.03       0.16  0.44                                       ______________________________________                                    

It is necessary to note that the above description reflects laboratory melting and forming practice only. It will be appreciated that the recited compositions are capable of being melted in large scale melting units and shaped into desired configurations utilizing forming techniques conventional in the glassmaking art. As is the case with standard glassmaking practice, it is only necessary to ensure that the batch materials are mixed together thoroughly and then melted at temperatures which will ensure a homogenous melt without excessive volatilization of any oxides or fluoride present, and that the melt is thereafter cooled, shaped into a glass body of a desired geometry and subsequently annealed. 

We claim:
 1. A glass exhibiting a transition temperature below about 325° C., a working temperature below about 425° C. and exhibiting excellent resistance to attack by water, the glass consisting essentially, expressed in terms of mole percent on the oxide basis, of about 42-54% P₂ O₅, 15-30% Cu₂ O, 10-30% R₂ O, wherein R₂ O is selected from the group consisting of 0-15% Li₂ O, 0-20% Na₂ O, and 0-10% K₂ O, 3-12% of a component selected from the group consisting of 0-7% MoO₃, 0-7%WO₃, 0-10% Fe₂ O₃, and 0-10% Al₂ O₃ wherein the Al₂ O₃ +Fe₂ O₃ does not exceed 10% and the MoO₃ +WO does not exceed 7% and up to a total of 45% of optional ingredients in the indicated proportions selected from the group consisting of 0-15% MgO, 0-20% CaO, 0-20% SrO, 0-20% BaO, 0-25% MgO+CaO+SrO+BaO, 0-35% ZnO, 0-10% MnO, 0-2% CeO₂, 0-10% B₂ O₃, 0-2% Ln₂ O₃, and 0-8% F, as analyzed in weight percent, wherein the predominate proportion of the copper present in the glass exhibits a Cu⁺ or monovalent oxidation state, and wherein the ratio of cuprous copper to total copper in the glass is at least 50%.
 2. A method for making a glass exhibiting a transition temperature below about 325° C., a working temperature below about 425° C. and exhibiting excellent resistance to attack by water and mild aqueous alkaline solutions, the glass composition consisting essentially, expressed in terms of mole percent on the oxide basis, of about 42-54% P₂ O₅, 10-30% Cu₂ O, 10-30% R₂ O, wherein R₂ O is selected from the group consisting of 0-15% Li₂ O, 0-20% Na₂ O, and 0-10% K₂ O, 3-12% of a component selected from the group consisting of 0-7% MoO₃, 0-7% WO₃, 0-10 Fe₂ O₃, and 0-10% Al₂ O₃ wherein the Al₂ O₃ +Fe₂ O₃ does not exceed 10% and the MoO₃ +WO does not exceed 7% and up to a total of 45% of optional ingredients in the indicated proportions selected from the group consisting of 0-15% MgO, 0-20% CaO, 0-20% SrO, 0-20% BaO, 0-25% MgO+CaO+SrO+BaO, 0-35% ZnO, 0-10% MnO, 0-2% CeO₂, 0-10% B₂ O₃, 0-2% Ln₂ O₃, and 0-8% F, as analyzed in weight percent, characterized in that the method is comprised of the following steps;(a) formula a glass batch adapted to produce a glass having a composition within the recited ranges, (b) employing at least one batch material of a reducing nature to insure that the copper content of the glass produced is predominantly in the cuprous state, (c) melting the batch at a temperature and for a time to form a homogeneous melt while maintaining melting conditions which will ensure that a predominate proportion of the copper is in the cuprous state, and thereafter, (d) cooling the melt and simultaneously shaping a glass article.
 3. (Amended) The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the batch materials employed comprise(1) a cuprous copper compound as the batch source of copper, (2) reducing agents as the batch source of P₂ O₅, and (3) strong reducing agents as the source of optional components. 